A publication of St. Benedict’s Day Nursery and Children’s Home Inc., Mt. Bentick, Georgetown, St.Vincent W.I.
Volume 51, #1

Telephone:
Institution: 784-4586244
Fax: 784-4586713
Email: sisnyrapaj@hotmail.com
Website: www.stbenedictshome.org
Management: Corpus Christi Carmelites: 784-458331

LAST DAYS OF MINETTE

Our last LINK featured Minette celebrating her 96^th birthday – with St. Benedict’s children and staff paying a special visit to Minette on August 1^st 2010, to wish her Happy Birthday.

On May 7^th 2011
It was so delightful to see Minette at our fund raiser, Tea Party and Fair.

Little did we know that her death was fast approaching!
Today we mourn, but celebrate with Minette her rejoicing with the Lord.

Minette passed away on June 25^th 2011. She was laid to rest in Kingstown’s cemetery on June 30^th 2011 - The month when Catholics honor The Most Sacred
Heart of Jesus – so full of LOVE FOR US.

Amidst several wreaths, there was Minette’s bouquet of 96 roses. This bouquet- if you can recall, was given to her by the children- preschoolers and staffs, of St. Benedict’s Day Nursery when they visited her on her 90th birthday- August 2004. At 94 years, 4 more roses were added.

One more was added at 95. Then one more, the last one- was added at 96 years, at a visit by the remaining children of the “St. Benedict’s Angel Steel Pan Side.”

A significant event for St. Benedict’s is the admission of a two (2) year old child – ABANDONED BY PARENTS – with cerebral palsy – no speech, non-ambulant. – Full of smiles and laugher! We have not had an admission of a child of that age for a long time (because of the condition of the Institution after many years of wear and tear which has left the building in a deteriorated condition).

This admission is seen as a coincident with the death of Minette. Minette lived much of her life in joyful service for the children of St. Benedict’s. – abandoned, orphans, mal-nourished etc. She has also seen some of the children grown with talents gained at St. Benedict’s.

Christmas 2009, Minette particularly asked for the children to play -‘come caroling’ for her. Their ‘tip’ awaited them from her.

Today, the children are here to bid her farewell – Aneisha played on the steel pan one of Minette’s favorite hymns – “Oh what could my Jesus do more”.

THIS HAS ENDED AN ERA IN THE LIFE OF ST. BENEDICT’S – FROM FR. ROLAND ROBERTS, FOUNDER, R.I.P. TO MINETTE, A VOLUNTEER AND SPONSOR, R.I.P.

We continue to pray that this FOUNDATION and LEGACY they have left for the needy children of St. Benedict’s, will continue to have significant meaning for you and many more donors to assist these less fortunate children of this island.

EXTRACT FROM FUNERAL MASS FOR LUCILLE MILDRED “MINETTE” COWAN

August 1^st 1914 – June 25^th 2011

“MEMORIES OF MINETTE"

Memories of Minette Cowan will last a lifetime, but sadly we have lost a special friend. St. Benedict’s Day Nursery has lost a valued sponsor and St. Vincent and the Grenadines has lost a National Treasure.

For over twenty years, Minette shared with us her adventures as a nurse in Canada and Alaska, her sometimes tempestuous, but always loving relationship with Walt her husband and following his death, her journey working with her great friend Fr. Roland Roberts in St. Vincent, and her love and support of St. Benedict’s Day Nursery. Each year during the Christmas season, we could count on a “Request for Funding” newsletter. Who can refuse?

Rarely we have met a more genuine soul; a free spirit who spoke her mind with such sincerity and truth. She was a warm and loving friend, had a contagious sense of humor and shared with us many a tumbler of scotch.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the entire world desperately needs, but unfortunately has too few, Minette Cowans. She will be missed, and she will be long remembered."

Dr. Sheila Pennington and Ben Harrison
Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Schuman & family, Diane Burbidge & the Cowan & Minette families of The United States of America and Canada express sincere appreciation to all those for their support and for sharing in the loss of Mildred, Minette’ Cowan.

Minette was laid to rest on June 30th 2011 in Kingstown, St. Vincent, W. I.

Her Funeral Mass was said by Archbishop Robert Rivas, O.P. Apostolic Administrator of St. Vincent and Grenadines, W. I.

M I R A C L E S DO HAPPEN!!!

Amidst our struggle – seeking funds here and there, in order to make life a little more comfortable for the less fortunate children under our care by re-construction of their Home - We were blessed with a grand donation which has given us a “BIG JUMP” into finishing the main building of this first phase of our Home.

These funds were given by The Ronald and Luise Casson Foundation, St. Vincent, W.I.

A section of the building will bear the name of this very generous donor. –“THE RONALD AND LUISE FOUNDATION SPECIAL CARE UNIT”

Work continues in full force. To arrive at the end. I wish to receive the ‘keys’ to the building by August 17th 2011- (two years after the commencement of this project) but it is very tight for this to take place that soon from now- but God is good! God is so good!!

There are other areas to be constructed to consider the Home to be FULLY FUNCTIONAL.

These areas are as follows:

1. Erection of a wall and fence – for the security of the children (and the property): Estimated Cost: U.S. $55 120.00 (E.C. $147 169.00)
   

   (The galvanized fence which you may see in a picture is owned by the contractor for security of the building site. This will be removed on completion of the building, thus leaving us with no security fence unless we can raise enough funds to erect this wall and fence prior to the commencement of the use of the building- or soon after transfer of the children to their New Home. )
   
   We have however, make the erection of this wall and fence a priority, for which we humbly seek your kind assistance.
   
   A FUND RAISER FORM FOR THIS PURPOSE IS INSERTED ON THE LAST PAGE OF THIS LINK FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE.
   
   Thanks in advance for your kind and generous contribution. God bless you abundantly.

2. External Work: Estimated Cost: R.S. $55 120.00 (E.C. $147 169.00)

3. Covering of Ramp: Estimated Cost: U.S. $60 300.00, (E.C. $161 000.00)
   
   We have managed to construct the ramp without covering but would like to have the ramp covered so that it can be used freely especially in inclement weather, both in the day as well as the night.

4. Laundry/Storage: Estimated Cost U.S. $110 675.00, (E.C. $295 500.00)

   • Laundry: There is no laundry facility for immediate functioning of the home. Clothes for washing will have to be carried back and forth from the day nursery (old site) to the Home (new site), with the hope of the construction of a laundry on the new site.
   • Storage: This is so vital for an Institution (such as ours). There is no area for this important aspect of the Home. We have included an area with the laundry for this purpose.

Other assistance needed for the New Home:
- Furnishing
- Sustainability (Strengthening of Sponsorship)

OTHER OUTSTANDING ASSISTANCE RECEIVED

We were very fortunate to receive assistance from The Mustique Charitable Trust, of St. Vincent, W. I., after the passage of Hurricane Tomas in October 2010.

*No more buckets to catch water pouring down from the roof of the day nursery building.

*No more pouring water into the toilet tanks to flush the toilets.

*No more walls needing painting for a long time.

Thanks to The Mustique Charitable Trust for their kind assistance in repairing the day nursery building. With the day nursery now in a better position of repair, we will make arrangement to hopefully re-opening the day nursery in September 2011.

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadine has also assisted us with the covering of a section of the Infant Hospital building and other minor repairs to other buildings on the compound, of which we are able to use more comfortably. We say thanks to the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, W.I

During this after- hurricane –period, we have also received assistance in cash and kind from the following donors:

• CARITAS, St Vincent
• Brown’s Hardware Ltd.
• East Caribbean Metal
• Rotary Club of St. Vincent
• Bequia Mission, Canada
• Corea Hazells Inc.
• Ms Mary Bolf, a member of CHUM, U.S.A. via Ms Mary Schmitcz

(Our dream is still to re-build the day nursery –Remember: We already have the plans passed by the Government. While we await funds – there might be a ‘God Father’ to assist us with this project – “You never know”).

We will welcome any assistance to strengthen our Sponsorship Programme for the management of the day nursery at this time. We will also need some assistance to furnish the day nursery with furniture, educational toys and other apparatus etc.

CAN YOU HELP WHEN YOU CAN?

MAIN FUND RAISER- Help needed!

We have been helping ourselves for many years with a main fund raiser, Tea Party and Fair – with kind contribution from many sources and kind donors, both local and overseas, e.g. Bequia Mission, Canada. This year our resources for gifts have been very much depleted and now we remain with nothing for preparation for this event for 2012 – we collect items from one year to another.

The following WISH LIST is a guide for you, may be your family, friends, co-workers – will be willing to consider us with some kind donations. May be you can slip in an item or two in your shopping basket for this purpose. (Some of the gift items listed can be used for booths for children and adults)

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR WHAT EVER YOU CAN ASSIST US WITH.
GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY!

ADULTS – (Cost of the game: CAN. $0.88; U.S.A. $0.75 – E.C. $2.00
Mainly small items – for the cost
(Larger items can be offered at a higher cost)

-Kitchen/Pantry Towels
-Tooth Brushes
-Face Towels
-Wash Cloth
-Teddy Bears
-Combs
-Hot Pads
-Sachets
-Bath Soap
-Key Rings
-File Pages
-Note Books
-Costume Jewellery
-Safety Pins
-Plastic Cups and Glasses
-Nail Polish
-Flower Pots – mini
-Kitchen Utensils/apparatus –small
-Shampoo, cream rinse; body lotion, perfume- small bottles-
-Soap Dishes
-Torches (Flash lights)
-Ornaments
Any other items as seen fit

CHILDREN- (Cost of the game: CAN$0.44; U.S.A. $0.37- E.C. $1.00

-Colored Markers – Washable
-Neck Accessories
-Small Note Pads
-Tattoo type stickers
-Small Craft Items, e.g. eyes, nose
-Safety pins – colored
-Exercise Books
-Hand Accessories, including silly bands/ Silicone Rubber band/ Bracelets
-Plastic cups and glasses- some with children’s patterns
-Watches (Dumb/Toy)
-Purses
-Handkerchief
-Balls – mini
-Light Picture Frame
-Creative Stationery
-White Board Markers
-Rulers 
-Poster Paints

NOTE: The following were taken from the    internet, under the heading: Small Party Toys:

-Tote Bag assortment 
-Mega Deluxe toy assortment
-Motivational roll Stickers
-Smile bean bag toss game
-Neon Paddle balls
-Inflatable min- beach balls assortment
-Inflatable mini- soccer puffer balls assortment
-Inflatable mini-baseball game
-Glider Planes
-Blow Outs with fringe
-Juggling ball set
-Hedge balls

Any other items as seen fit

T O    G O D   B E  T H E  G L O R Y!!

TO YOU, OUR KIND AND GENEROUS DONORS – GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS BE WITH YOU

Sr. Amadeus Nicholas O. Carm., (who has joined us last September 2011), Staff, Children and Sr. Nyra Anne Pajotte O. Carm., Administrator

Guide for your kind donation:

Make cheque payable to:  St Benedict’s Day Nursery and Children’s Home/ St Benedict’s Children’s Home

1. If you live in Canada and would like to have a receipt valid for Income Deduction send your request directly the address of Mr. Keating
   The Father Roberts St Benedict’s Charity
   c/o Chairman Mr. Chris Keating
   55 Heath St West
   Toronto
   Canada M4V 1T2
   Tel.No. 416 923 7900
   Email: chris@hvq.com

2. In you live in the USA or the UK please make your request directly to:
   

   The Administrator
   St Benedict’s Day Nursery and Children’s Home
   Mount Bentinck
   Georgetown
   St.Vincent W.I.